I wonder if the Russians aren't more of a problem for Israel than for Syria. They paid for the very weapons the Israelis threaten to destroy. They might not be happy with Assads brinkmanship but in the end it's Israel who would destroy Putins strategic assets in the middle east and that sounds very unlikely. We will more likely see a kind of escalation where the Israelis try to persuade Russia to persuade Syria not to squander Russian assets. This gives Syria leverage over two mighty military powers. Not bad for a country in ruins.

for themselves.

The situation is very incendiary, with little for Israel to gain by conflict. As the article indicates, Assad would love to maneuver Israel into battle with Russia & Iran... and then stand on the side & enjoy it.

moral to the story: Lieberman - shut the hell up !

since barak and later olmert livni and now bibi, israel has fought in a limited fashion and one arm tied behind its back. Why? Goldstone, and the experiences of the leaders-ehud barak rose to fame as a commanod and not a smashing land general so he avoided open conflicts. olmert and livni had no combat experince and olmert was judged by winograd interim to have failed badly. he was in my opinion afraid of looking at broken bodied and severed limbs. livni had no experience either.

bibi was shot i believe sevveral times. and that is it regardlss of his participation. the shapira report shows him disconnected and passive. as yvet, said, bibi on his own cannot undertake a major action.

putin has smashed syrian rebels without hardy any casualties among the russians. he has used air and naval p ower to smash city blocks, not one building at a time. he has used some special forces.

idf has to p repare to do likewise while using gas masks in case. home front should be passing out such masks and now and notwhen it is too late.

herzog has no capacity to fight hezbollah and syria, zero, he is a weakling. ask mordechai kedar about herzog.

assad is totally dependent on his patrons iran and russia.

assad has some capabilities, but israel is not the syrian rebels.
israel's capabilities are much greater and much more sophisticated.

any attempt by shia terror axis to attack israel will result in the
destruction of all of assad's capabilities, his small remnant
military and civilian infrastructure and the destruction of lebanon.